Developers are now able to enter a lottery to attend a WWDC 2022 viewing party at Apple Park, with Apple now accepting entries through its developer website.
Apple is inviting a small number of developers to the Apple Park campus to watch the WWDC 2022 keynote and Platforms State of the Union on Monday, June 6.
We're hosting a special all-day experience at Apple Park on June 6 to kick off WWDC22. Gather with others in the developer community to watch the keynote and State of the Union videos alongside Apple engineers and experts, explore the all-new Developer Center, and so much more. We can't wait to connect in person.
Apple says that it will be an all-day experience at Apple Park, with developers also be invited to explore the new Developer Center that Apple has built. Apple last year said that it was building a dedicated Developer Center on the Apple Park campus, though few details have been provided about it.
The Apple Park event is free, and all members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program can apply to attend. Invitations will be allocated through a random selection process and cannot be transferred.
Submissions will be accepted from Monday, May 9 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through Wednesday, May 11 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Developers will be notified of their status by Friday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 range of smartphones depreciated almost three times more than the iPhone 13 lineup in the first two months after launch, according to research by SellCell.
Samsung announced the Galaxy S22 range in February this year, almost five months after the launch of Apple's iPhone 13 lineup. Just two months after launch, the S22 lineup as a whole lost 46.8 percent of its value. The Google Pixel 6 did not fare much better, losing 41.5 percent of its value two months after launch. In both cases, this is a considerable depreciation compared to the iPhone 13 models, which lost just 16.8 percent of their value two months after launch. The Galaxy S22 is also the only smartphone lineup to continually lose value, experiencing no value recovery after launch, unlike the iPhone and the Pixel.
The 128GB Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G was the poorest performing model in terms of value retention, losing 53.8 percent of its value by month two, and the 128GB Pixel 6 Pro lost 44.2 percent of its value. On the other hand, the worst performing iPhone model was the 128GB iPhone 13 mini, which lost 29.2 percent of its value by month two.
The best performing Samsung model was the 128GB Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, with a loss of 41.7 percent two months after launch, and this was again beaten by the 128GB Pixel 6 with a loss of 33.1 percent. The best performing iPhone model, the 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max, lost a diminutive 3.8 percent of its value in that timeframe.
SellCell's findings demonstrate that Android handsets still have some way to go in terms of long-term value retention compared to the iPhone, with similar studies published on an annual basis. See the full report for more detailed information.
BMW is temporarily shipping new cars without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality due to the automaker changing its chip supplier (via Automotive News Europe).
The new chips built into many BMWs manufactured this year require updated software to be able to run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. BMW customers who receive a new car without CarPlay are being asked by dealerships to wait for an over-the-air update that will enable the functionality "by the end of June at the latest."
It is not clear how many BMW models are affected, but a large number of customers in the U.S., Italy, Spain, the UK, and France have posted online about their new vehicles being delivered without CarPlay. Affected models include the code "6P1" in their specification.
While some BMW owners will have to miss out on CarPlay functionality for a temporary period, BMW is switching chip suppliers to strengthen its supply chain in the long term amid the continued impact of the global chip shortage, which could reduce component shortages in the second half of the year.
The 32GB Apple TV 4K has dropped to $149.99 this week on Amazon, down from $179.00. To date, this is the best price we've ever seen on Amazon for this version of the 2021 Apple TV 4K, and it's in stock now with delivery as soon as this weekend for many places in the United States.
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Apple introduced the new Apple TV 4K last year, and it comes with the all-new Siri Remote, the A12 Bionic chip, and more. For more storage, the 64GB version is also on sale, priced at $189.98, down from $199.00.
You can keep track of Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD deals in our dedicated guide. Additionally, head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive, who still partners with Apple on products, has revealed his 12 must-have design tools for making, marking, measuring, and carrying with him every day.
The list appears in a special issue of Financial Times' "How to Spend It" magazine (paywalled), of which Ive is guest editor, and the designer uses the opportunity to put the focus on his obsession with "making."
Depth gauge — Starrett 440Z-3RL depth micrometer, $355 Weather station — Wempe Navigator II ship’s clock and weather station, $1,960
Ive doesn't offer any explanation for what makes the list or what specific products they helped him design, but in a separate piece in which Ive and fellow LoveFrom designer Marc Newson talk about the equipment in their Cotswolds workshop, he opines:
"There's a beauty and a joy in the machines and tools. They are no longer solely a means to an end. I think there's an inherent elegance in an effective tool that normally results in a curious beauty."
Later in the conversation, Ive recalls how Newson helped him through the challenges he faced working on the Apple Watch, and how he "really struggled" with the physical design.
I do think our work on the Apple Watch together speaks to a joyful and effective collaboration at a particularly difficult time. I had felt so strongly that there was an important opportunity to create a very personal and useful product that could be worn on the wrist. I spent a lot of time wrestling with the big founding ideas and the fundamental issues of interface but had somehow assumed that the work on the actual object would be fairly straightforward.
When the basic architecture of the idea was defined, I really struggled with the physical design. It was from that place of struggle that I asked you to help. While it was humbling for me, I think we got to the final design quickly together. We are proud of the work. I always hope to achieve that sense of inevitability, that simplicity where there doesn’t really appear to be a rational alternative.
Ive co-founded LoveFrom with Newson in 2019 after leaving his position at Apple. At the time, the tech giant said it would remain one of Ive's primary clients, but which Apple products he has helped to design since then is unknown. Apple said Ive was involved in the design of the colorful 24-inch iMac released in April, but it's not clear if that work occurred after Ive left the company.
It remains unclear how many employees work for LoveFrom, but Ive recruited at least four of his former Apple colleagues to work with him at the firm, including Wan Si, Chris Wilson, Patch Kessler, and Jeff Tiller.
Apple CarPlay is now available for Tesla vehicles – but only for owners willing to resort to a workaround that uses a connected Raspberry Pi.
In the face of Tesla's apparent indifference to repeated calls to bring CarPlay to its automobiles, Polish developer Michał Gapiński demoed his success in bringing Apple's in-car system to his Tesla Model 3 earlier this year. As noted by Tesla North, after six months of work, Gapiński has now released the first publicly available alpha version of "Tesla Android" on Github for others to download and try.
The workaround involves using a Rasberry Pi with an LTE modem and a Wi-Fi access point, running a custom Android-based firmware, as well as a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable and Ethernet cable. As demonstrated in a YouTube video, the in-car browser is used to connect to the Rasberry Pi and display the CarPlay interface on the Tesla's screen, where Apple apps including Maps and Apple Music function as expected. The system works while driving, and can also be controlled with the media buttons on the Tesla's steering wheel.
Gapiński says the main objective of the latest alpha release was usability. "For the project to scale and become popular in the Tesla community it needs to provide a responsive Android experience. Otherwise, people won't use it," he says on his Tesla Android Project website.
"Right now the focus is starting to shift towards better integration and simplification," continues Gapiński. "Dropping the two boards requirement will help in reducing both cost and entry barrier by reducing the install guide to something that can be done in a matter of minutes."
Despite the preponderance of CarPlay on many other electric cars, Tesla does not offer official support. Hints in 2020 that Tesla was planning to support Apple Music never came to fruition, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk doesn't seem to respond to requests on Twitter for the company to bring CarPlay to its vehicles, despite it being one of the most-requested features among Tesla owners.
Apple supplier Quanta's ability to manufacture MacBook Pro models at its Shanghai site remains seriously hampered despite the easing of lockdowns and resumption of production, reports DigiTimes.
According to the Taiwan-based supply chain website, Quanta has so far only been able to restore around 30% production capacity at its Shanghai site since lockdowns ended last month.
Quanta is the sole assembler of Apple's 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros and the machines are primarily made at the ODM's Shanghai plant. Quanta vice chairman CC Leung on April 30 pointed out that the company's Shanghai plant has restored around 30% of its capacity and is eyeing to raise the percentage to 50% gradually.
The report says many downstream assemblers are likely to have already resumed their production lines, but many still face insufficient supplies of components for the same reason.
Apple customers have been facing unusually protracted delivery times for several weeks due to limited production capacity caused by lockdowns and chip shortages. On Apple's online store in the U.S., all pre-configured purchase options for the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the 16-inch MacBook Pro currently show a delivery estimate of June 29 - July 14.
The same dates apply to the Mac Studio (20-Core/48-Core CPU/GPU), although the 10-Core/24-Core CPU/GPU configuration fares slightly better with a May 17 - May 24 delivery window. Availability for the MacBook Air, 24-inch iMac, and Mac mini are currently unaffected by the constraints, while Mac Pro depends on configuration options, but some do run into June.
According to DigiTimes, Apple has already switched its transportation from marine to air to shorten the shipment schedules in the face of disrupted logistics in China, but only a limited number of shipments have moved to air transportation, which is causing the current shortages.
Apple last month said that lockdown disruptions in China and silicon shortages will continue to make it difficult to make enough product to satisfy strong consumer demand as the year progresses, and this will ultimately affect Apple's June quarter revenue.
Apple is planning to introduce several improvements for Apple Fitness+ and Apple Pay this year, and has explored offering an all-new groceries service that integrates with the Health app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman outlined his expectations for new Apple services this year. Two finance-related Apple services are purportedly in development, including a hardware subscription program and a "buy now, pay later" service for Apple Pay transactions, designed to allow customers to pay for Apple Pay purchases in installments over time, rivalling existing services like Klarna.
Last month, Gurman explained that the hardware subscription program would allow customers to pay a monthly fee and gain access to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac for the duration of the subscription. Apple is said to be aiming to make the process of buying an iPhone or an iPad "on par" with purchasing iCloud storage or paying for an Apple Music subscription, with customers able to subscribe to hardware with their Apple ID and App Store account.
The service is rumored to be Apple's "biggest push yet" into recurring sales, and while it has been working on hardware subscriptions for months, it was apparently pushed back to focus on the "buy now, pay later" Apple Pay service. Gurman claims that Apple is working to implement hardware subscriptions by the end of 2022, but it potentially could be delayed to 2023 or canceled entirely.
Moreover, Apple is reportedly planning to add new workout types to Apple Fitness+ with iOS 16 later this year. In addition, Apple is said to have explored offering an "Instacart-like service that integrates with nutrition data in the Health app." Gurman noted that the service sounds potentially complex to implement and "fairly low-margin." He added that he is also hoping for substantial upgrades to Apple TV+ this year.
Expansion of Apple's range of services have been a topic of speculation for some analysts, with Loup Ventures suggesting that Apple could offer "Podcasts+," "Stocks+," "Mail+," and "Health+" in the future.
Apple is planning to release the second-generation AirPods Pro this fall, rumored to feature a new design, improved audio quality, and some possible health integration, according to Bloomberg'sMark Gurman.
Look out for new AirPods Pro in the fall. The current model has been on the market since fall of 2019, so the batteries are already probably in trouble for some early adopters. Also look out for an AirPods Max refresh with new colors (and, we hope, a price drop—$550 is absurd for those headphones).
The AirPods Pro have not been refreshed since their launch in 2019, and multiple rumors have suggested a launch this year. Gurman's claim of a fall launch lines up with information previously shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said a launch would occur in the second half of the year. The new AirPods Pro could feature a more compact design that sees away with the stem, coupled with a new charging case and lossless audio support over a new protocol.
As for the AirPods Max, Apple is not expected to be working on a second-generation model of the over-ear headphones that launched in December 2020. Instead, Apple is thought to be working on new color options. Today, Gurman said that the new colors are still being worked on but stopped short of offering a timeline for when they could launch.
Goodfellow reportedly broke the news to staff in an email, saying his resignation is in part due to Apple's plan to return to in-person work, which required employees to work from the office at least one day per week by April 11, at least two days per week by May 2, and at least three days per week by May 23. "I believe strongly that more flexibility would have been the best policy for my team," Goodfellow said in the email.
Apple employees began returning to Apple Park last month, with the three-day in-office work policy being enacted on May 23. Some employees have been unhappy about the plan to return to in-person work.
In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook during the summer, a group of employees said "Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple. This is a decision none of us take lightly, and a decision many would prefer not to have to make."
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
We're only a month away from WWDC, and excitement is building with Apple preparing to open up a lottery for a limited number of developer spots to attend a viewing at Apple Park.
This week, we also got a chance to try out Apple's new Self Service Repair program for ourselves, while we heard rumors about the Apple Watch Series 8, got a closer look inside Jony Ive's departure from Apple, and more, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more!
Testing Out Apple's Self Repair Program With an iPhone 12 Mini Battery Fix
Apple recently launched its Self Service Repair program in the United States, starting with iPhone 12 models, iPhone 13 models, and the third-generation iPhone SE. As part of the program, Apple offers select iPhone parts, tools, and manuals to customers to complete repairs.
We were curious how the Self Service Repair program works and how it compares to the simplicity of bringing a product in to Apple for repair, so we had MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera order a repair kit to replace the battery inside an iPhone 12 mini.
As someone unfamiliar with repairing iPhones, Dan described the process as a "big mistake" — watch the video to find out why.
Apple Watch Series 8 May Feature Body Temperature Sensor
Kuo said the body temperature sensor was originally planned for the Apple Watch Series 7 last year, but Apple allegedly postponed the feature during development due to the algorithms being unsatisfactory.
Developers Can Apply for Chance to Watch WWDC 2022 Keynote at Apple Park Starting May 9
As the default Windows 11 browser, the popularity of Edge has crept up in recent months, allowing it to surpass Safari in usage as of April 2022. The rankings represent desktop browser usage only, with mobile browsers excluded.
'After Steve' Examines the Tensions That Led to Jony Ive's Departure From Apple
Tony Fadell, a former Apple executive who led the teams that created the original iPod and iPhone, also released a book this week titled "Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making."
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Last May, Apple Apple announced that it would be merging its iCloud Documents and Data service into iCloud Drive in May of 2022, and that transition has now been completed.
As noted in a support document updated today, users who previously relied on iCloud Documents and Data for syncing files across devices will need to turn iCloud Drive on in order to see their files.
iCloud Documents and Data, our legacy document syncing service, has been discontinued and replaced by iCloud Drive. If you used iCloud Documents and Data, your account has been migrated to iCloud Drive.
If you used the iCloud Documents and Data service, you need to turn on iCloud Drive to see your files. When you switch to iCloud Drive, the amount of storage space your saved files use in iCloud doesn't change.
Apple's support document provides instructions and minimum system requirements for iCloud Drive on iOS devices, Macs, and on the web at iCloud.com.
The vast majority of iCloud users already have iCloud Drive enabled, so they won't see any changes. But for users who had iCloud accounts prior to the introduction of iCloud Drive in 2014 and never enabled it, perhaps to maintain compatibility with pre-iOS 8 and pre-OS X Yosemite devices that couldn't support iCloud Drive, they will now need to turn it on in order to regain access to their files.
The older iCloud Documents and Data service kept cloud-synced data stored in folders specific to a given app, only allowing access to the data from that app. With iCloud Drive being a more full-featured syncing service, all of those files can now be accessed from a single location: the Files app on iOS and iPadOS, the iCloud Drive section of Finder on macOS, or the iCloud Drive section of iCloud.com.
Apple in April 2022 launched a Self Service Repair program for the iPhone, which is designed to allow Apple device owners to do their own repairs in their homes using Apple parts, repair manuals, and tools.
In this guide, we walk through everything you need to know about the Self Repair program, including whether it's worth it to use over alternative repair options.
Devices That Can Be Self Repaired
At the current time, the Self Service Repair program covers several recent iPhone generations, including the iPhone 12 models, iPhone 13 models, and the 2022 iPhone SE. A full list of covered iPhone models is below:
Select Mac laptops including the M1MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020 and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models from 2021 are also included in supported countries, while support for the 2021 24-inch iMac, 2020 Mac mini, and 2022 Mac Studio, as well as the Apple Studio Display is limited to the United States at the current time.
Initiating a Repair
The first step in initiating a repair is to check out the repair manual for the device that you want to repair in order to get an idea of what it entails. You'll need to skim through it to get the repair manual code that's inside, which is the next step of the repair process.
After reviewing the manual, you can visit the Self Service Repair Store to input the device that you want to repair and the component that needs repairing. Apple will show you the repair parts and tools that you need for the repair, along with pricing information.
You can add the components that you need to the cart on the website and check out to get them shipped directly to you. Note that almost all of the repairs require specialized tools that you can purchase individually or rent from Apple in a toolkit for $49.
Note that the repair store is not operated by Apple and is instead run by a third-party provider, SPOT.
Accessing Repair Manuals
To get to a repair manual, you just need to visit Apple's Self Service Repair website. From there, click on the "Apple Repair Manuals" link under "Support." You can also click below to get directly to the manual that you're looking for. Note that all of the links are PDFs on Apple's site.
Each repair manual explains how the repair process works and it walks through the parts that are available for purchase. Repair manuals include details on how to set up for a repair, the steps required, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Components That Can Be Repaired
Apple's manuals, tools, and components are available for the following repairs for each iPhone:
Battery
Bottom speaker and rubber gasket
Camera and cowling
Display and adhesive
Security screws
SIM tray
Taptic Engine
Upper and lower cowlings
If another iPhone component is broken, it is not able to be self repaired and will need to be taken to an Apple Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or an independent repair shop.
Supported Mac models include several dozen parts that can be replaced, including casings, fans, speakers, circuit boards, display, sensors, trackpad, and more.
Tool Kit Rentals
Almost all of the repairs require specialized tools designed by Apple, and they can be obtained through renting one of Apple's repair kits. Repair kits are $49 to rent, but you have to put down a ~$1,200 deposit to ensure you return the repair kit.
You have seven days with the repair kit, after which it must be returned to Apple through UPS. When a tool kit is first rented, Apple charges an authorization fee that will disappear once the kit is returned. Apple says that users will be charged for any missing or damaged tools.
A repair kit that includes nearly all of the tools that you need sounds convenient, but the one for iPhone models comes in two parts that are heavy and unwieldy. The first part of the kit weighs in at 43 pounds, and the second part of the kit weighs in at 36 pounds, for a total of 79 pounds. These kits are so heavy that Apple offers tips for lifting them on the repair website:
Think before you lift. Size up the object, if it is too bulky get help!
Plan the lift. Know where you are going and have a clear path.
Stack the smaller case on the larger, extend the handle and roll versus carrying the two cases.
Balance the load you are carrying between both hands.
Have a good base of support - spread your feet apart shoulder width or more.
Bend with your knees and hips, and keep your head up.
Feet first. Turn with your feet not your torso.
Take your time.
Stacked together, the kits are 20 inches wide and 47 inches high, but they do include a wheeled case for transportation. Each kit includes a battery press, a display press, a heated display removal fixture, a repair tray, adhesive cutter, protective covers, and torque drivers, with a full list available on the Self Service Repair website.
Tool kits are customized for each Apple device model, and it's worth noting that there are some parts that you will need to purchase separately as not all tools are included. Most of the tools that are not included may be items you have at home or can purchase inexpensively at repair or hardware stores.
Mac tool kits are generally significantly smaller and lighter in the range of 4–8 pounds, although the MacBook Air kit weighs in at nearly 40 pounds largely due to the inclusion of a display press.
Tool Purchases
The Self Service Repair Store offers hundreds of parts and tools that can be purchased on a standalone basis for iPhone and Mac repairs. You do not have to use one of Apple's rental kits that are outlined above, and you can instead purchase each tool you might need.
That will get expensive, though, because some of Apple's proprietary repair tools are pricey. Some of the sample prices for iPhone tools are below, with many of these tools required for each repair.
If you are planning to do multiple repairs it may be worth purchasing each component piecemeal, but for a one-off repair, it's much more affordable to rent a kit.
Repair Pricing
When taking into account the $49 rental fee of Apple's toolkit, repair pricing is in some cases more expensive than simply taking a device to Apple for repair.
Here are a list of repair prices for the iPhone 13 as an example, with the repair kit rental price included. Each of of these is calculated using the repair component bundle that Apple recommends. Apple does give a discount for sending replaced components in for recycling, so that is also included in the pricing.
Battery Repair - $95.84
Speaker Repair - $92.64
Camera Repair - $113.54
Display Repair - $285.35
SIM Tray - $7.20 (No repair kit required)
Taptic Engine - $92.64
Note that this pricing does not take into account the effort of returning the repair kit, plus it requires the replaced components to be shipped back to Apple. It also does not factor in the time spent doing the repair, which can be lengthy for those who are new to repairs.
Comparatively, it costs $69 to have Apple replace an iPhone 13 battery out of warranty, so it is not worth it to do a battery replacement on your own. Likewise, it costs $279 to get a broken screen replaced by Apple even if you don't have a warranty, which is cheaper than the self repair.
For other repairs, you may save some money based on Apple's out of warranty repair/replacement costs. Non battery and display repairs are priced at $449 for the iPhone 13. Of course, this repair price is the price that Apple sets, and Apple Authorized Service Providers may charge less.
If you have AppleCare+, there is no reason to even consider a self repair because every repair is $99 or under.
Repair Requirements
Apple does not allow you to order any old repair part you want -- all repair purchases are tied to a specific iPhone or Mac. When creating a new order, you need to provide either a serial number or an IMEI from your device that you're repairing.
The serial number of the device must match the part you're ordering. So, for example, if you want to purchase an iPhone 13 display bundle, you need an iPhone 13 serial number or IMEI. This essentially restricts repairs to device owners and does not allow for independent repair shops to bulk order parts from Apple.
After installation, many of the repairs require you to get in touch with Apple to verify the part through a System Configuration process.
Returning Parts for Recycling
After you've completed a repair, the components that you've removed may be able to be sent back to Apple. If that's the case, and Apple is able to use those components, you can get a small discount on the cost of your repair.
With an iPhone 13 battery repair, for example, you can get $24.15 back in credit after sending in your old battery, which drops the price of the repair components to $46.84 (plus the $49 for a toolkit).
The Self Repair Experience vs. Apple Repairs
We tested out the repair process with an iPhone 12 mini battery replacement, and found that it was difficult for a person with no repair experience to complete. It was an involved and time-consuming process that took nearly a full day and required tools that even Apple didn't provide in its toolkit.
At the end of the repair, it turned out to be more expensive than having Apple do the battery replacement, and overall, it was not worth the time and money invested. Make sure to check out the video up above for a full overview.
Some repairs, such as those for the camera and the Taptic Engine may be worth it because you can save some money based on what it costs to get those repairs from Apple, but make sure to thoroughly read the repair manual ahead of time to know what you're getting into. For most repairs, it is going to be easiest to get in contact with an Apple retail store, an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or an independent repair shop that uses Apple components to get your device fixed.
Supported Countries
The Self Service Repair program is available in the United States for all supported products, and in late 2022 it was expanded to a number of European countries including Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Device support in those countries is, however, limited to iPhone and Mac laptop models.
Future Expansion
In the future, Apple plans to expand the Self Service Repair program to additional devices and countries.
If you've been missing Fortnite on the iPhone and the iPad during the Apple vs. Epic Games legal battle, Microsoft has good news for you - the Xbox Cloud Gaming service now supports Fortnite, which means you can play on your iOS device using Safari or another browser.
In our latest YouTube video, we thought we'd check out Fortnite through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service to see how it works, what the gameplay experience is like, and whether it's a suitable substitute for a native app.
Fortnite is the first free-to-play game available through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service, which means there's no cost at all to play. All you need is a Microsoft account that's linked to your Epic Games account and you can log in and play right alongside your friends.
It's Fortnite, so there are, of course, plenty of in-app purchases to be had, but the core gameplay experience is entirely free. Xbox Cloud Gaming is available in 26 countries and while it's still operating in a beta capacity, gameplay is not bad at all.
There's a small amount of input lag playing Fortnite, but that may vary depending on your location and your connection speed. It does impact first person shooter games like Fortnite, but ultimately, we were able to navigate and play without issue.
You can play using touch-based controls right on the iPhone or the iPad, or you can connect a controller for a more console-like gameplay experience.
It's worth noting that Nvidia's GeForce NOW service is also working on a browser-based version of Fortnite that's currently in closed beta, but Microsoft's version is available now to everyone. We did try Fortnite through GeForce NOW, and it's a very similar gaming experience.
All in all, if you want to play Fortnite on iPhone or iPad while on the go, or if an iOS device is your only device, the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform is a viable solution that's worth checking out.
Have you played Fortnite through Xbox Cloud Gaming? Let us know what you thought of the experience in the comments below.
We're taking a look back at this week's best discounts and offers that are all still available to purchase today, including the best prices we've ever seen on iPad mini 6 and iPad.
iPad mini 6
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This week we saw the iPad mini 6 drop to a new record low price of $399.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $499.00. This was paired with another all-time low price drop for the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6, available for $539.99, down from $649.00.
The entry-level 64GB Wi-Fi iPad dropped to $309.00 this week, down from $329.00. The 256GB Wi-Fi tablet saw an even more drastic discount, available for $429.00, down from $479.00, and both of these iPads can be found on Amazon.
We saw the AirPods 2 return to their best price of 2022 this week, available for $99.99, down from $129.00. This is the model of the AirPods 2 that comes with the Wired Charging Case, and currently the cheapest entry point for a new model of the AirPods family.
Magic Keyboards
What's the deal? Take $50 off Magic Keyboards for iPad Pro
Amazon took $50 off the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro this week, in both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch configurations. The 11-inch model is on sale for $249.00 and the 12.9-inch model is on sale for $299.00.
Satechi
What's the deal? Take 20% off Satechi Wireless Chargers
Over on Satechi, the retailer introduced a new sale that marked down select wireless chargers by 20 percent when using the coupon code MOTHER at checkout. This includes accessories for iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch, and more, with chargers starting at just $24.00.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Yet another rare Apple-1 computer is up for auction, and this one already has a bid of over $250,000. The Apple-1 was the first Apple product created by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak when Apple Computer was founded, and there are few left in existence.
Apple-1 models that come up for auction often fetch high prices because of their rarity, and this particular Apple-1 up for sale is number 7 on the registry with a Steve Jobs handwritten serial number. It is a first batch machine, and according to the auction website, it is the only first batch Apple-1 that has gone up for auction in many years and it is the first Apple-1 that has an authenticated serial number handwritten by Jobs.
Daniel Kottke, who was one of the first employees to work at Apple, has verified that it is in working order. It comes with a power supply and other period-appropriate components that include a Sanyo VM-4509 monitor and a Datanetics keyboard. It is also being sold with a modern cassette interface, power supply, connecting cords, and a reproduction of the original operation manual signed by Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
The auction site is also selling a 1993 Apple MacTV, which was Apple's first effort at creating a TV-computer hybrid, and a Steve Jobs name badge, Versace shirt, and leather wallet.
The Apple-1 auction is set to end on Saturday, May 21, so there are still two weeks for additional collectors to enter bids.
iOS 15.5 will include the reintroduction of a popular Apple Music API used by third-party music players that allowed users to change the playback speeds of songs within the app, an Apple software engineer has announced.
With iOS 15.4, Apple removed an API used by third-party Apple Music players that let users change the playback speed of songs. The Apple Music app itself does not let users change playback speed, but popular App Store apps like Perfect Tempo offer users that ability. For some unknown reason, Apple removed the API with iOS 15.4 but with the upcoming release of iOS 15.5, currently in testing, Apple is adding back the functionality.
Joe Kun, an Apple software engineer on the Apple Music team, posted this update to frustrated developers earlier this week (via iGeneration):
Hello,
We have re-evaluated our previous decision to disable changing the playback rate for subscription content from Apple Music in third-party applications, and we came to the conclusion that we could safely enable that functionality again, just like before the release of iOS 15.4.
As such, this issue is fixed in iOS 15.5 beta 4.
I hope this helps.
Best regards,
Apple this week released the fourth beta of iOS and iPadOS 15.5 to developers. iOS 15.5 will include only small changes and features, alongside performance and security fixes. You can find all the changes coming with iOS and iPadOS 15.5 here.
Apple's privacy chief Jane Horvath is listed as a speaker at the 2022 Computers, Privacy, and Data Protection conference in Brussels, Belgium. Apple is also sponsoring the conference, which is scheduled for May 23 through May 25.
It's unclear when Horvath will speak or what topics she plans to discuss at the conference, but Apple has been advocating against the EU's proposed Digital Markets Act that would require Apple to allow sideloading of apps on the iPhone outside of the App Store. At past conferences, Apple executives like CEO Tim Cook and software engineering chief Craig Federighi have argued that sideloading poses privacy and security risks.
Cook spoke at last year's Computers, Privacy, and Data Protection conference, where he implied that companies like Facebook with a business model of maximizing engagement through algorithms can lead to polarization and violence.
"At a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement — the longer the better — and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible," said Cook, adding that "it is long past time to stop pretending that this approach doesn't come with a cost — of polarization, of lost trust and, yes, of violence."
Horvath joined Apple in 2011 as Senior Director of Global Privacy and now holds the title of Chief Privacy Officer at the company. She has two decades of information privacy and legal experience, with her previous roles including Global Privacy Counsel at Google and Chief Privacy Counsel and Civil Liberties Officer at the U.S. Department of Justice.
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